Technical problems close South Bend, Elkhart ice rinks

Options limited for skaters in South Bend, Elkhart

Options limited for skaters in South Bend, Elkhart

January 01, 2008|MARGARET FOSMOE Tribune Staff Writer

If you received new ice skates for Christmas and you're longing to use them, your options are limited. In the midst of the holidays, the public outdoor ice skating rinks in South Bend and Elkhart both are closed because of equipment problems. The Howard Park Ice Rink in South Bend was closed Monday because of continuing problems with the refrigeration equipment. All public skating sessions Monday were canceled. The new NIBCO Water & Ice & Park in downtown Elkhart is closed through Wednesday because of problems with the Zamboni machine. The NIBCO park is expected to reopen on Thursday, according to the Elkhart Park and Recreation Department. At Howard Park, employees are trying to create smooth rink ice the old-fashioned way: with water and the cold winter temperatures. "It's not creating ice that is skatable," rink manager Melanie Trowbridge said. The rink had been scheduled to be open all this week with extended public skating hours because of the holidays. It is unlikely the South Bend rink will be open today for New Year's Day skating, Trowbridge said. "I doubt we'll have enough ice," she said. The rink has been experiencing refrigeration problems for about a week. Last week, there also was a water line problem, which has been repaired. The problems forced the city of South Bend to cancel the "ice" portion of Saturday's "City Celebration: Fire and Ice" event. Call the Howard Park Ice Rink at (574) 235-9451 for a telephone recording providing updates on the rink's status. For updates on the Elkhart ice park, call the Elkhart Park and Recreation Department at (574) 295-7275. Other area ice rinks that offer public skating: -Howard Ice Arena, 2414 Willa Drive in St. Joseph. Public skating hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Cost is $3 admission per person, $3 skate rental, and under age 5, free. For more information, call (269) 983-8795. -Merrifield Ice Rink in Mishawaka is closed today. The rink will be open for public skating from noon to 4 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Cost for Mishawaka city residents is $1.50 for ages 7 to 17, $2.50 for adults. Cost for nonresidents is $3 for ages 7 to 17, $5 for adults. Skate rental is $2. -The Ice Box, 1421 S. Walnut St., South Bend, has public skating hours from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for students and $3 skate rental. For more information, call (574) 288-3300.